trioptimum Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 I am looking into buying a 93 Lexus es300. I like it allot ^_^. There is some rust above the window but it is light and only a small patch. The only other problems are the antennae (no biggy) and the dash. The dashboard lights are kind of dying (see other post) but it doesn't seem to _need_ fixed, and I would be able to do that myself easily as I wired a bunch of neons into a friends t-bird for him and it wasn't hard. I found a site that is taking pre-orders fo a kit to do with some kind of cathode neons it for $450 so that's always an option as well and that would look nice. My only other concern is the timing belt. It it over 150,000 miles, and the owner has had it since 75k. He never heard of a timing belt ;-p. Do you guys think it will need a new one? What's it going to run me? Also, should I get it checked out at a toyota or lexus dealership? Where should I get the work done (that I can't do myself ^^)? I have a mechanic I trust but he only does German autobahn cars... He's asking $4500 for it and the blue book value I get on it is $5315. I love the car ;). I have been looking for one for awhile now... I would opt for a 94 but I think I should go with this one and keep the money for repairs in the next year. Any suggestions? Thanks! Great forum here.
wwjdwithca Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 Not sure why your worried about the timing belt? Just the milleage? If that's the case and it's not showing timing problems I wouldn't worry about. Toyota engines are built to last! Now the transmission!! I would be worried about that with 175k on it. If the tranny has never been replaced then........well, let's just put it this way. My '92 300 trans only lasted 90k. Not good. Anyway, 150k is typical for an automatic transmission. By the way, the reason they figured the trans went on my car so early was the ECT chip. They said that malfunctioned and ruined the transmission......over time of course. So I would slap it into ECT mode and see how she drives; or shifts as the case may be. Good luck! Keivn
piggyncsu Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 WAIT WHAT IS THIS ABOUT THE ECT CHIP! it ruined your trans? gees..how much was the new trans..what did the chip do to it exactly...
wwjdwithca Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 I had bought a rebuilt unit for 3 grand, and new one was $4500. Nice! The transmission would jerk hard at shift points, and when you'd "kick it down" it wouldn't shift, but go all he way to redline. At first it started doing this only when the ECT was activated, and latter it did it in any mode. I was not told that I could have "saved it" if I would have brought it in for service when I immediatly noticed that it was acting-up. It's been a few years so I'm not certain what time period ellapsed. My mechanic is not a Lexus mechanic. I personally do not like the Lexus dealership here in Ontario, CA. They've never seen a problem that they couldn't fix by replacing the part! My mechanic I've used for over 4 years now, and is very competent, and extremely honest. I've asked him to change the oil during another service, and he calls me and says, "You just changed your oil 1000 miles ago, still want me to change it?" He also put Freon in my A/C system several times at no charge when he couldn't figure out where the leak was coming from. Finally, he refered me to an A/C specialist who said, "compressor, replace it!" Thanks. He had an transmission specialist look at the tranny before he replaced that as well. He was familiar with the car, and said that the electronics in the transmission were defective, and was shifting the transmission incorrectly. Again, that was several years ago, so I don't remember his exact words. My mechanic replaced the trans, and actually did if for very little. Charged me like $300 for labor (seems like he had 8-10 hours invested, but again, don't remember all the specifics very well), and he said he made nothing on the part which was around $2500. Still didn't make me feel very good. Actually, that's probably the biggest reason I still own the car. It was such a big chunck of change that I couldn't get rid fo the car, so someone else could have a brand new transmission. Kevin
trioptimum Posted September 7, 2003 Author Posted September 7, 2003 Has anyone else experienced that, is it normal for the transmission t odie out around 150k? Thee poeple at the Lexus dealership saidthe timing belt should be replaced now so it doesn't break later... what would be some signs of it needing replaced? Thanks!
SW03ES Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 There arent any signs, the timing belt replacement is a maintenance item, it should be replaced at least every 100k miles.
trioptimum Posted September 7, 2003 Author Posted September 7, 2003 Yeah, thats why I figure I should replace it. As for the tranny, should I really be worried about it? The car seems to run fine.
piggyncsu Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 did you check the date under the hood for the timing belt replacement.... mine was around 86,000 miles so i have a few more to go...as for the 150k tranny, im only at 133, so we'll find out..who wants to bet mine conks on me....blasted parts.. and lexus dealerships stink. there is only one here in nc i think...and it's down the road...my car will not be going back if i can help it. and the whole chunk of change spent on your car WW, i must agree..aint no one getting my car anytime soon...gonna get my money's worth out of that thing.... :chairshot: frustration is a __ :chairshot:
SW03ES Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 There are three Lexus dealers in NC. Hendrick Lexus 6025 East Independence Charlotte, NC 28212 Phone: (704) 568-4122 Flow Lexus 611 Edgewood Street Kernersville, NC 27284 Phone: (336) 993-0105 Johnson Lexus of Raleigh 5839 Capital Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616 Phone: (919) 877-1800 I suggest you try another dealer Piggy. Although, NC is a big state and I dont know how far away other dealers are. Most Lexus dealers will do pickup and delivery for a certian distance though (matter of hours). The majority of Lexus dealers are great, expensive, but great.
wwjdwithca Posted September 7, 2003 Posted September 7, 2003 I've never agreed with that mentality of changing items that are fairly expensive to replace before they are broken, so it won't strand you latter. I've heard way too many stories of people doing that to run into a slew of other problems. All of those components wear together, and they like each. Sometimes when you change them you throw off the balance of the engine, and can cause severe damage within the motor. Just two weeks ago I was talking to a guy at work who's had two cars that when he changed the tranny oil the transmission came apart. I've actually heard of that on several occasions, particularly when the oil has never been changed and the transmissions has a lot of miles on it. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not at all saying your worse off changing parts out like timing belts, but it's not like were flying airplanes. I had a 1978 Celica GT that at 150,000 miles had a timing chain that was in as good a shape as it was brand new. Incredible! That engine had been BEAT for at least 70k (my first car), and in the winter the thing would always start, but would run rough until it warmed up and then ran just great! Why would you change the chain on that car when all the parts and pieces ran so well together? Fix things that break, or that don't work good anymore.....isn't that the rule? KD
trioptimum Posted September 8, 2003 Author Posted September 8, 2003 Thanks for the adivce... the guy has had it since 75k and he never replaced t so if it wasn't done before 75k then I will get it done. I don't want anything to ge worse and that would be 50k over the reccomendation (just goes to show reccomendation = more $$$ for Lexus). Now as for the rust on the car, the spot is about 1.5 inches long, and is a little bit under the chrome above the window, but the entire area is still black, it's just bubbly. How much do you guys think thats going to cost me? We have a body shop I'm going to get an estimate from we trust. I talked to someone who got the dash needles replaced _by_ Lexus for $120. Has anyone heard of Lexus doing that? Money bags told me I needed a new cluster at $800 and labor :chairshot: . I talked to the guy today and he said he had some little rubber things he hadto mount on the muffler to stop it from vibrating (I didn't feel anything though when I drover it). H said he thought he could do it but the muffler had to come out to do it. Anyone know what he's talkign about and if Lexus is gunna have to do it? I think I should get one of thos repair manuals on cd then I could do it myself or have someone else do it with manual. Good thing the cars priced so low otherwise I couldn't afford all this ^^;;
trioptimum Posted September 8, 2003 Author Posted September 8, 2003 Oh BTW isthere somewhere I can get listings of the Lexus dealerships in Ohio? I'm in Akron so cleveland would even be a little far for me to go, and the one here sucks. Thanks,
trioptimum Posted September 8, 2003 Author Posted September 8, 2003 Oh also you mentioned trying out the ECT mode... what is that and how do I do it? I'll have Lexus look it over anyway.
SW03ES Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 www.lexus.com will give you a listing of all Lexus dealerships by state. As for the timing belt, you had a Celica that had a perfect timing chain after 150k. Thats a timing chain, timing chains last MUCH longer then timing belts. Lexus uses belts, not chains. Belts need to be periodically replaced, chains don't. If the engine is an interferance engine (I'm not sure about the ES) then if the timing chain breaks, it can destroy the valves and piston heads, rendering the engine ready for replacement or rebuild. At the very least it leaves you stranded, needing a tow to the shop, and replacement of the belt anyway, so why not change it out earlier and save the cost of the tow and the frustration of the whole situation? The timing belt doesn't show wear (they can't look at it without doing 3/4ths of the replacement job) it just snaps, no warning, destroying the engine if its interferance, or at the very least stranding you wherever you are if its not. Not worth putting the money off until the last minute. Lexus reccomends anywhere form 60k miles for this, which is extreme, but certainly every 100k the timing belt should be replaced. The argument that a car runs better when preventative maintenance is not done is rediculous. Not only will it void your Lexus warranty, it will just condemn the car to an early grave. Yes the Lexus is a reliable car, but a car can only be so reliable when the preventative maintenance isnt done. In the case of those transmissions, not changing thge oil destroyed the transmssion, not changing it. Follow the reccomended service intervals for the car, at least the big things.
amf1932 Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 The 1993 ES300 has a non-interference engine, so if the timing belt breaks your engine wouldn't be destroyed. The could happen at the most inconvenient time, so why chance it? The scheduled maintenance on your car to have it replaced is 60K miles! The later models should be changed at 90K miles.
wwjdwithca Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 The ES is not an interference engine, so that point is moot. If I implied that preventive maintenace should not be completed then your right. I don't believe that is what I said. The car has 175,000 miles on it. Which warranty would that be? My conversation was regarding high milleage cars, I apologize for not being more direct. Again, the car in discussion has 175,000 miles on it. Isn't it obvious we were discussing high milleage vehicles? I'm not saying that he shouldn't replace the timing belt, I'm saying that on a high milleage vehilce you need to think twice. Old parts are many times better than new. Believe it or not. Ya know, just cause someone doesn't do it the way you would, doesn't mean they are "ridiculous." As for fixing the instrument cluster, I don't brought mine into the dealer and the only thing they said they could do is "replace". $800.00 The dealer won't check the ECT. Take the car for a drive again. Go slow from 0-60 with ECT off. Go fast with ECT off. Then repeat process with ECT on. Then take off and accelerate slowly about 15 mph and back off. See how the transmission shifts. Your looking for "hunting" when the transmission shifts or jerking. Good luck. KD Out.
trioptimum Posted September 8, 2003 Author Posted September 8, 2003 Where and what is the ECT ^_^? How do I trun it on? You guys have me worried about the transmission... I know all the owners changed the oil on it (I know both of them) and bring it in for more than scheduled maintenance. Is there anything I can have checked over other than checking the ECT to see if it's ok? Thanks!
SW03ES Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 I'd much rather spend the $300 now, then spend $450 (including a tow) down the road. What if it happens on a hot summer day with your 90 year old grandmother in the car? Or what if it happens when you have to pee? Just not worth it ;)
amf1932 Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 Or what if it happens when you have to pee? Don't you know that you're supposed to keep a pee bottle in the trunk. Your local Lexus dealer sells these at the parts counter. :P
SW03ES Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 LOL, I know a guy that does that. Don't joke!
MamasLex Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 The ECT is near your shifter handle thingy-ma-bob. Its a little button you can push to turn it off and on. My neighbor (holy firestone mechanic ) said it would wear on the tranny, so I have never used it. Is it just more power or what? My 93 has just over 150k and has never had the timing belt changed. It came with all of the service records and I didnt see anything for a timing belt, so I dunno...
amf1932 Posted September 8, 2003 Posted September 8, 2003 Using the ECT just changes the shift points to get maximum acceleration from a standing start. It's not the most economical gas wise 'cause the engine RPM's go higher in each gear in this position. The transmission is built to use this function so I don't think that it'll hurt it any.
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